Christian Questions & Answers

Is it not written if we are Christs then are we Abrahams seed and heirs of the promise ?

And that Abraham is the "father of the faithful " be they Jew or gentile .

Is it not also written that " Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Abraham gave tithes to Melchesadech.?

We can find something about Melchesadech in the letter to the Hebrews .

If Abraham our father gave tithes to Him who by that letter as a foreshadow of Christ.

And By the same scriptures Levi in the old Testament gave tithes while in his loins .

Then by both old and new Testament we should give tithes

Christians should offer to God portions of their time and money as He directs. There were specific instructions about tithing in the OT and NT churches continued the practice of taking up money in the church for the needs of the ministry. These NT passages speak of taking up offerings in churches.

1 Cor. 16

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

2 Cor. 9

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Tithing, which means giving 10% of your overall revenue, is specifically found only in the Old Testament which was given to the nation of Israel. It was a testament, or covenant, between God and Israel. The Old Testament came to an end at the death of Jesus Christ as prophesied at Jeremiah 31:31-34; thereafter, the New Testament, or covenant, replaced it. See Luke 22:20. Nowhere in the New Testament instructions to the Church (Romans to Revelation) did the Apostles ever instruct the Church to tithe. Rather, they were instructed to give as their heart desired. The amount is a personal decision between a person and God. 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

A tithe was a requirement of the Old Testament Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the tabernacle/temple ( Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes-one for the Levites, one for the use of the temple and the feasts, and one for the poor of the land-which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent. Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system.

After the death of Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, the New Testament does not command or suggest that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. The New Testament does not designate a percentage of income a person should set aside, but only says gifts should be "in keeping with income" ( 1 Corinthians 16:2). Some Christians take the 10 percent figure from the Old Testament tithe and apply it as a "recommended minimum" for Christians in their giving.

Although no tithe is mentioned in the New Testament, it talks about the importance of giving. We are to give as we are able. Every Christian should diligently pray and seek God's wisdom in the matter of participating in tithing and/or how much to give ( James 1:5). Above all, offerings should be given with pure motives and an attitude of worship to God and service to the body of Christ. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" ( 2 Corinthians 9:7).

Courtesy of GotQuestions. Used with permission.

Malachi 3:10,

Deuteronomy 12:19, Deuteronomy 14:29, Deuteronomy 16:11-14,

Deuteronomy 16:19,

Deuteronomy 26:12,13, Deuteronomy 26:10-12,

Mark 12:38-40,

1Timothy 5:16, James 1:27,

Matthew 25:31-46,

Hopefully these are helpful in understanding tithe